As Congress aims for a national energy fix, U.S. Sen. Mark Udall on Friday broadened his push for mini-nuclear-powered plants as part of the solution by addressing the hot-button matter of radioactive waste.

Existing “dry cask” technology can store spent fuel from modular reactors safely for up to 100 years, Udall said. Also, a new national panel of experts must relaunch the effort begun in the 1980s to establish a permanent national dump, he said.

“We have time to get it right,” Udall said in a phone conversation with reporters.

He referred to radioactive-waste facilities in New Mexico and Utah as options for longterm storage.

“The political process has to involve all communities. . . . I believe we could find an area,” Udall said.

No greenhouse gases

The waste issue looms as Udall and other Democrat lawmakers embrace nuclear power as a necessary part of a comprehensive approach to energy that is cleaner and less dependent on foreign suppliers.

The planned national radioactive dumpsite at Yucca Mountain in Nevada remains closed because of local opposition.

Udall and other lawmakers this week introduced a bill that would authorize research and development of small-scale, modular nuclear power plants to help meet energy needs. Unlike coal and gas power plants, nuclear plants don’t emit greenhouse gases.

The Colorado School of Mines could be well-positioned to receive new federal research funds, Udall said.

Lawmakers have been looking at renewable-energy sources as well as oil — combined with a cap on pollution and a system for trading offset credits among companies that pollute too much.

The political reality is that energy legislation capping carbon emissions “will not pass” unless it also includes strong provisions for nuclear power, Udall said.

Need “to be realistic”

“My commitment to renewable energy and efficient technology will never waver. . . . That is the future,” he said. “But I was hired to be realistic, to solve problems, . . . ” he said. Pushing just for renewable energy “is not solving the problems.”

Tax incentives, loan guarantees and quicker permits for nuclear plants are among the ideas floated so far as lawmakers define how strong their commitment to nuclear will be. Natural-gas and coal-power companies already benefit from tax incentives.

And in finding a long-term dumpsite, no state, including Colorado, should be ruled out until a new process runs its course, he said. “Look, every state benefits from having a 21st-century energy policy, so you don’t take your state off the list until the process is pursued.”

Bruce Finley covers environment issues, the land air and water struggles shaping Colorado and the West. Finley grew up in Colorado, graduated from Stanford, then earned masters degrees in international relations as a Fulbright scholar in Britain and in journalism at Northwestern. He is also a lawyer and previously handled international news with on-site reporting in 40 countries.

More in News

The University of Colorado leadership is grappling with how to address a nationwide nosedive in the favorability of higher education — particularly, among conservatives — as CU’s own representatives and decision-makers disagree on what’s behind the downturn.